Cooper University Hospital Announces Creation of Health-Records System

Fictional Press Release developed by Claudia Teixeira under the direction of Professor Mike Long for the Masters in Public Relations / Corporate Communications program at Georgetown University.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Claudia Teixeira

September, 22 2009 Phone: 240-888-045

Cooper University Hospital Announces Creation of Health-Records Exchange System

The exchange system will allow for faster, cheaper and more accurate patient treatment

CAMDEN, N.J. – Today, Cooper University Hospital announces in a press conference the creation of a health-records exchange information system to be shared with most health care providers in Camden.

The health information system will solve many problems and allow for faster, cheaper and more accurate patient treatment. Doctor’s will have instant access to previous treatments and exams in the patient’s medical history and then treat the existing symptoms.

“In order to provide the best possible care, every physician at every health system wants as much information as possible,” said Anthony Mazzarelli, medical director of the emergency department at Cooper University Hospital. “If you are taking care of a patient who has a complicated health situation and you can’t get that data, you are flying blind.”

The system is being built due to a valuable collaboration of Cooper University Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Virtua Health and most primary-care providers. The health data will be collected and made available through Noteworthy Medical Systems of Cleveland. About 200 doctors and caregivers will be able to access the data, but first, patients must give their consent to the release of the information.

Funding for the exchange, which is going to be the first in the state, is coming from hospitals, foundation, and the government.

The system, called Camden Health Information Exchange, will start being built immediately and is expected to be available this winter.